Mark Pougatch

Mark Pougatch (born 27 January 1968, in London) is a freelance radio and television broadcaster, a journalist and author who works mainly as a sports presenter for the BBC.

Early life

Born in London in 1968, Pougatch attended Malvern College^[1] where he was captain of the First XI cricket team^[2] and graduated with a degree in politics at the University of Durham where he was a member of Hatfield College. After completing a post-graduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism at the London College of Printing, he worked for six months at the former BBC radio station for London, BBC GLR.

Broadcasting career

Pougatch became a regular football reporter on the radio in 1992 with BBC Essex. In 1998, he joined BBC Radio 5 Live, a national radio service and the principal station covering sport in the United Kingdom. He was selected to be the main presenter of 5 Live Sport on Sundays. In August 2000, he switched to the Saturday edition of the show and, in August 2005, he switched to the Friday night slot.

In March 2010 Pougatch presented Late Kick Off, a BBC One television football programme, for the London and South-East regions, in the absence of regular host Mark Chapman. In April 2010, Pougatch presented coverage of the IPL cricket on ITV4 while regular host Matt Smith was on Europa League duty.^[3]

He has presented Football Focus and, since 2004, has sometimes deputised for Gary Lineker on Match of the Day. He has also presented or reported at major sporting events including the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, The Ashes, the Six Nations, Wimbledon, the Ryder Cup, the Open Golf Championship, the Grand National, the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics^[4][5][6] and the 2011 U.S. Masters golf tournament.^[7]

Currently, Pougatch presents 5 Live Sport on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.^[8] He also regularly deputises for Nicky Campbell on the Five Live Breakfast show.

Other activities

Pougatch joined the team of Football Superstars, a game which was due to be released in 2009 as an innovative MMORPG game integrating gameplay with footballer's lifestyles. He is the author of Three Lions Versus the World: England's World Cup Stories from the Men Who Were There.^[9] He is also a speaker, after dinner and at daytime events.^[10]

Personal life

Pougatch lives in Oxfordshire with Lady Victoria Scott, the younger daughter of the 5th Earl of Eldon,^[11] and their three children. His grandfather^[12] and great-grandfather were among the diaspora who escaped Ukraine amid the violence that followed the first Russian Revolution.^[13]

References

1. ^ A profile at the Guide to Independent Schools.
2. ^ Malvern pair aim to make most of French connection. Schools cricket By Cathy Harris. The Times. 11 July 2003.
3. ^ "Sports Agenda". By Charles Sale. The Daily Mail. 12th April 2010
4. ^ BBC Radio 5 Live : About Mark Pougatch : Profile.
5. ^ Durham Alumnus Mark Pougatch shares his thoughts on sports. Official website of the University of Durham.
6. ^ Profile of Mark Pougatch. MPC Entertainment.
7. ^ US Masters Golf 2011 on the BBC. March 30, 2011
8. ^ Press Office: Mark Chapman joins 5 Live Sport as regular Monday night host. BBC official website. 15 January 2010.
9. ^ Three Lions Versus the World: England's World Cup Stories from the Men Who Were There. Mark Pougatch. Mainstream Publishing. 21 May 2010. www.amazon.co.uk.
10. ^ Biography : Mark Pougatch. The Edge Entertainment Agency.
11. ^ The Descendents of William the Conqueror: Tudor 26. www.william1.co.uk.
12. ^ "BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Pougatch is a sucker for a grumpy TV character and has been known to read Red." By John Dugdale. The Guardian. Monday 30 November 2009.
13. ^ Travel: A chance letter from a distant relative led BBC presenter Mark Pougatch to Ukraine, home of his ancestors." Mark Pougatch. The Mail on Sunday. 22 April 2007. London, England.

External links

• The Official Football Superstars Website
• Mark Pougatch on Twitter

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Name	Pougatch, Mark
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Date of birth	27 January 1968
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